Ceiling-suspended elevatable table



Patented Jan. 1', 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

2,580,980 CEILING-SUSPENDED ELVTABLE TABLE Herschel C. Vrooman, Denver,Colo.l Application April 21, 1950, Se'ltl O. 157,367

. l My invention relates to an improved ceilingsuspended, elevatabl'etable.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a ceiling-suspended tablefor use in homes, apartments and the like, the table being constructed-so that it can be readily raised and lowered with minimum effort by ahousewife. A yfurther object of the invention is to provide `aceiling-suspended, elevatable table which may b e raised to aninoperative or stowed position close to the ceiling, so as to be wellout of the way of occupants of the room.

A further object is to provide a ceiling-suspended table of theabove-mentioned character which may serve as a dining, card, cocktailtable or the like, and which is highly simplified in construction,compact, sturdy and durable.

A further object is to provide a ceiling-suspended, elevatable diningroom table having no depending legs to interfere with the occupantsseated about the table, the table being neat 'and attractiveinappearance, and very easy to install.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description. c

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, andin'which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical transverse central section takenthrough a ceiling suspended elevatable tableembodying my invention,partlyr in elevation, the table being shown in a lowered or operativeposition in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary, central,

vertical, transverse, sectional view through eXjtended or loweredtelescopic tube sections;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of my table in theelevated or stowed position, and showing lockingmeans-.for releasablyholding the table elevated; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, central, vertical, transversesectional view through the lower part of the table, partly in elevation.

In the drawings, where, for the purpose of illustration is shownv apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I designatesarst ortop, cylindrical suspension tube or sleeve having its bottom end openandprovided-thereon with a narrow, internal, annular flange I I .forminga suspension shou1der. The top end of the 2 Claims. (Cl. 311-17) tube I0may likewisebe open, if desired, and the tube I0 is provided Vat itstop-with an external, annular, lateral flange I2 integral therewith, andhaving a pair `of diametrically oppositely disposed, ilat, radiallsuspension Tplates "or arms 4I3 integrally lsecured thereto, as show-n.The 'tp faces vof these arms I3 are disposed at the l'saine elevation,and preferably a slight distance above the top end of the suspensiontube I0. The arms I3'are adapted to engage against a room ceiling Ill,and the `arms are apertured for receiving 'a pair of upwardly directedlag Iscrews I5, vof the like, which engage in a pair of adjacent ceilingjoists I6, as shown, for suspending my ele'vatable table from theceiling. The lsuspension tube I0 preferably extends approximately fte'eninches below' the ceiling 14, although this distance may be varied asdesired. The tube I0 Vhas 'a vsmootli, cylindrical bore, and is providedat any desired point around its lower end 'with a bayonetetype lockingslot Il opening through the lower rvedge of the tube IIJ fora purpose tobe described.

Telescopically vslida-bly mounted within the bore of the suspension tubeIIJ are a plurality of straight, cylindrical tube sections or sleevesI8-, I9, 20 and Z-I, each successively smaller in diam? eter than thenext outer sleeve, so that all of the sleeve sections may be telescopedor nested within the outer suspension tube I Il when my table iselevated, Figure l. The tube sections I8, I9, 20 and 2I are each.provided at their top ends with external, annular, radial ilanges 22,and at their E bottom ends with internal, annular ilangesl 23 formingsuspension shoulders. The tube sections all have smooth,cylindricalbores, and the eX ternal anges 22 ofthe tube sectionshave asmooth, sliding flt within the bores of the next outer tube sections. Asbest shown in FigureuZ, the internal, annular flanges v23 projectradially inwardly of the external flanges 22 so that the anges 22 and 23 may interlock, as shown, for holding all of the tube sectionssuspended from the outer or rst tube I9 when my table is low` ered foruse. The bores of the tube sections and the flanges 22 and 23 should beaccurately formed or machined, so that therewill be substantially noplay or wobble between the various tube secf tions when the table islowered or eirteridd,- I prefer to form the tube I0 and the severaltelescopic tube' sectionsfrom aluminum tubing, or 'the like, butifdesiredathe'se parts may be refined of any other suitablevlliglitweightmaterial, such as a suiiiciently strong and durable plastic ma# at itsbottomend with anat, annulanyianeri iiange 26. This iiange 26 has aplurality of circumferentially spaced openings 21 for the reception ofiiathead bolts 28, or the like, which serve to rigidly secure a flat,wide table board or plate 29 to the bottom of the fiat ange 26.Theitable pin 30 suitably rigidly -secured thereto, and this v lockingpin is adapted to enter the bayonet slot i1 of the suspension tube l0when the table is elevated for releasably locking the table in theraised or stowed position. As shown in Figure 1, the lowermosttubesection 2| and the suspension tube IB are longerthan the other tubesections IS, iiland 20;, so. that whenthe table is elevated, the lockingpin 39 engages the bottom edges of the. tube sections I8, i@ and 20 andholds them elevated slightly above the bottoms of the tube l and tubesection 2i. When the tableis lowered, the suspension tube l0 and theseveral tube sections constitute a central vertical hanging pedestal. 'y

1- While I have shown four telescopic tube sections i8, I9, and 2| inthe drawings, it should be understood that any desired number of thetube sections may be employed, depending up on the height of the ceiling14 and the length of the tube. sections which itis desired to use. It is.preferred that the table board 28 be arranged approximately three feetabove the iioor when it is lowered or extended, as shown dotted inFigure 1.. If the suspension tube l@ is made approximately fifteeninches long, as previously stated, there will be ample head room orclearance in the room when the table is elevated, assuming that thetable it installed in an average or conventional home or apartmenthaving 8- foot ceilings. Y

My table may obviously serve a variety of purposes, such asl for adining room, card or cocktaill table. The various parts are preferablyformed from light, strong materials, as previously stated, so that thetable may be raised and lowered with a minimum of effort. When lowered,the various flanges of the tube l0 and the other telescopic tubesections intert and coact, as shown,-for securely suspensing the tableboard 29 from the ceiling. It should be evident that my elevatable tableis veryv easy` to install upon the ceiling, and the various componentparts are very readily assembled for formingr a highly simplined,compact and extremely sturdy construction. The table is very easy tomanipulate, so that it may readily be raised and lowered by a housewifeor other person.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to betaken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious4r changes in shape, size: and arrangement of parts. mayberesorted lto without departing from the spirit. of` the invention` orthe scopeoithesubioinedclaims., y

Having thus described my invention, I claim;

. Vil., In ,a ceiling suspendedelevatable. table, a vertical suspensionAtube adapted to be secured to depend' ironia ceiling, a. plurality ofslidably telescoped tube, sections, including an outer. tube sectionslidably telescoped in the ysuspension tube,'me`ans precluding downwardseparation of 4 the outer tube section from said suspension tube anddownward separation of the other tube sec tions from each other in thedepressed operative position thereof, said plurality of tube sectionscomprising an innermost tube section arranged to occupy the lowermostposition in the depressed operative position of the tube sections, saidinnermost section being axially rotatable relative to the suspensiontube, said suspension tube being formed with a bayonetslot having avertical arm opening through the lower edge of said suspension tube anda horizontal arm and a table plate mounting member on the lower part of.said innermost tube section for mounting a table plate thereon, saidmounting member having a pin projecting laterally outwardly` therefromwith respect to the vertical axis of the innermost tube section, said inbeing insertable through the vertical arm of the bayonet slot as thetube sections are elevated toa'stowed position-oi' the table andsupportably engageable with the horizontal arm ofthe bayonet siot byrotating the innermost tube section relative to the suspension tube inone direction.

2. In a ceiling suspended elevatable table, a vertical suspension tubeadapted to be secured to depend from a ceiling and having an open lowerend, a plurality of downwardly extensible tube sections, said tubesections being slidably telescoped in each other and including anoutermost tube section slidably telescoped in said sus'- pension tubeand anA innermost tube section which is axially rotatable relative tosaid suspension tube, said tube sections being shorter than saidsuspension tube so that in the elevated positions thereof said tubesections can telescope substantially entirely into said Suspen# siontube, said suspension tube having a bayonet slot at its lower endincluding avertical arm opening throughvthe lower edge of saidsuspension tube and a horizontal arm spaced above the. lower edge of thesuspension tube,v and a member fixed in the lower end of said innermosttube section comprising a locking pin projecting radially outwardly fromsaid innermost tube, said locking pin being insertable upwardly throughthe. vertical arm ofthe bayonet slot in said suspension tube as the tubesections are telescoped upwardlyinto said suspension tube to produce-anelevated inoperative position of the table and supportablyengageablewith'thc horizontal arm of the bayonet lslot by rotating theinnermost tube section relative to the sus-- pension tube in onedirection whereby the table is locked in elevated inoperative positionwith4 the tube sections teiescoped substantially entirely with saidsuspension tube.

Hansenet. C. moo-MAN. isErlernen()Es'v CITED A The following referencesare of recordin the nie. of this patent:

'CFNITI'EDl STATES; PATENTS;

Number' Name Date 495,409' Fry a. Apr-., l.i`, 1893 911,149l Moore ig-Feb; 2f, 1969 1,178,343.' PayneA et'- al. Apr: it 1916 1,185,642-Emerson s.; June 6, 1916 1,199510 Elphinstone Oct. 3', i9161;-6-3'i'588fr Emel Aug. 2, i927 2,035,874" Gage i; Mar; 312'4 i936Blumer Oct; 1I, i949

